42 BULLETIN 1037, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
all parallel to the length of the car was laid across the floor. An 
interval of perhaps 1 or 2 inches separated the members of a pair, 
and the distance between successive pairs was made a little less 
than the length of a spoke. Upon either end of these was laid a 
single transverse row of spokes. A third layer similar to the first 
and a fourth similar to the second were then laid down. With two 
more alternate layers a comparatively open base six layers in height 
and providing for partial aeration of the ricks was constructed. 
Upon this base the remaining spokes of the rick were close piled in 
successive layers, two or three spokes in depth. Each alternate 
horizontal layer was placed at a slight angle to those directly above 
and below, but all had a general direction lengthwise of the car. 
Each rick when built to within 2 feet or so of the roof contained 
on an average 833 spokes. As soon as one end of the car had been 
filled ricks were placed in the opposite end. In the doorway three 
longitudinal ricks were constructed and any space remaining was 
filled in with loose spokes. In this particular case one end of the 
car was stacked with the hot-creosoted spokes, the opposite end and 
1^ ricks in the doorway being stacked with the cold-creosoted spokes. 
Parts of two ricks in or near the doorway comprised spokes treated 
with mercuric chlorid, and the remainder consisted of untreated spokes 
thrown in loosely between the longitudinal ricks antf the doorway. 
Both doorways were boarded up with 6-inch boards spaced 1J inches 
apart, and both doors were left open for about 1 foot. This car left 
the yard on July 24, consigned to one of the large vehicle factories 
of the North and reached its destination on August 14. On August 
15 and 16 it was unloaded and inspected by C. J. Humphrey and the 
writer. During the time that the car was in transit the weather was 
in general hot and dry, although local showers may have been 
encountered. 
CONDITION OF SPOKES IN CAR NO. 1 UPON ARRIVAL AT DESTINATION. 
The inspection at the time of arrival was very thorough, each spoke 
being handled separately and a record kept of the number showing 
mold in any degree. Observations were also made, in a general way, 
of the extent of sap-stain and incipient rot. No attempt was made to 
discriminate between heavy and light infections, as these largely 
depended, with a given preservative, on the position of the spokes 
in the ricks or in the car with respect to the amount of ventilation 
received. In general, the top layers to a depth of 15 to 18 inches 
showed very little mold; likewise, the loosely arranged bases were 
quite free or comparatively so. The molds consisted for the most 
part of fluffy white to tawny mycelium, together with a compara¬ 
tively small amount of green Penicillium. In the case of the cold- 
creosoted spokes, there seemed to be an increase over the amount 
